Race Week Offshore returns to Key West for the 2026 World Championships from November 1 to 8, and Ocean Key Resort & Spa, one of the event's long-standing sponsors, is again positioning itself as the place for race fans to base themselves for the week.
The resort sits at the very end of Duval Street, with the distinction of being Zero Duval Street. It backs onto Mallory Square in Old Town, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, and offers guest rooms, resort suites and an oceanfront penthouse for anyone wanting to be close to the action between heats.
For New Zealand crews and supporters making the trip to Key West, accommodation this central matters. It puts visitors within walking distance of the harbour area where the world championship fleet gathers each day, rather than relying on transport after a long day at the water's edge. That proximity also puts guests close to Truman Waterfront Park & Race Village, where pit crews will be working out of tents and generators supplied by Four Star Rentals, the locally owned firm that has served the Keys since 1986.
Sunset Pier is the resort's signature feature, billed as "Key West's most iconic outdoor venue." After the chequered flag, the pier fills with race fans chasing tropical drinks, live music and what is widely regarded as the best sunset view in town.
There's more to the resort than just the pier. Hot Tin Roof offers fine dining built around local ingredients and island influences. LIQUID Pool Bar & Lounge sits pier side for those wanting to relax or get the evening started early, with some of the best water views on the island. Sweet Bird Bar, with its coral pink interior, looks straight out to the ocean. For those wanting to properly switch off between race days, SpaTerre Key West is a boutique spa known for Balinese treatments and Thai body rituals.
The site itself carries history well beyond the resort. A pier has stood on the spot since the late 1830s, used over the decades as a Navy pier, coal dock, ferry dock and a departure point for the cigar trade.
The resort opened in 1981, became part of Noble House in 1998, and Sunset Pier underwent a full rebuild in 2018.
For those wanting a closer look at the racing itself rather than a view from the pier, Fury Water Adventures is running spectator boats positioned right at the turns on race days, along with a VIP ferry service out to the Mole.
Ocean Key Resort & Spa is located at 0 Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040. Reservations for race week can be made on 844.330.3852.
